Vegas Baby, Vegas

Here are a few things that the Illini could have learned from their weekend in Vegas.

If you can't spot the sucker in the first half-hour at the table, then you are the sucker.

Translation:  The Illini came in to the tournament thinking they were the big-shot favorites, and they ended up with no wins and no dignity.

A Firsthand Account of Playing with Fire

Slammin' Sam on Sports Media

Who would have thought last Thursday’s links edition would have been a foreshadowing? Not I. Yet here I am writing about hockey. As I already shared, I don’t know much about the sport, nor is it on my [Mike] Richter scale. So it would take something pretty unusual to catch my attention. Theo Fleury’s book “Playing with Fire” fits the bill.

Update on Bird and Magic

A couple weeks ago, I gave my take on the legends looking back on one of sports' greatest rivalries. The two came together again for a Sunday Conversation on ESPN. Take a look.

By the way, since I figure most people will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday, Slammin' Sam on Sports Media will return next Tuesday. And on the subject of thanksgiving, we here at Free Keon thank you, our readers, for your interest!

Sam Miller/Free Keon

Orange and Deja Blue

A decade of Illinois basketball has passed and it feels like not much has changed.  The current Illini squad bears a striking resemblence to the 1999-2000 team.

Big 12 Update: What a Season!

The Danville Vikings had a memorable season, and no other Big 12 town could use the positive vibe that a strong high school football can bring more than Danville. The citizens of the community rallied around this team to lift many spirits of an economically challenged town. The exciting journey came to an end today in a 30-21 loss to Nex Lenox Providence. Josh will have to fill us in more on the details of how the game played out, but the Vikings should not hang their heads. They have a long list of impressive accomplishments to boast. For the first time in history, they defeated all three McLean County Big 12 schools in the same season. They made it to the semifinals in a very tough Class 6A. No other DHS football team has won more games in a single season. They are the Big 12 Conference champions. And they encouraged a greater sense of unity and pride in their community. Great job, Vikings!